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Angela
Three English courses and an intensive writing seminar at Penn in a single year gave Angela a sharp sense of how language works at the sentence level — a skill that translates directly into crafting poems where every word has to justify its presence. She teaches students to move from raw emotion to ...
University of Pennsylvania
Bachelor of Science, Psychology/International Relations

Certified Tutor
Hasan
Hasan earned his B.A. in Literary Arts at Brown, where poetry wasn't just something he studied — it was central to his creative practice. He digs into line breaks, sound, imagery, and form with students, treating each draft as raw material to sculpt rather than a finished product to correct.
Brown University
B.A. in Literary Arts and Visual Arts

Certified Tutor
Sarah
Sarah's dual background in English and music gives her an unusual ear for the sonic dimension of poetry — line breaks, meter, assonance, the way a vowel sound can carry emotional weight. She teaches students to draft with attention to both image and rhythm, then revise with the kind of precision tha...
Harvard University
PHD, Ethnomusicology
Oberlin College
Bachelors, English and Jazz studies

Certified Tutor
David
Most writing teaches students to explain — poetry teaches them to compress, to make a single image do the work of a paragraph. David's broad literary background across American literature, comparative literature, and creative writing gives him a strong sense of how diction and economy function on th...
University
Bachelor's

Certified Tutor
Poetry lives at the intersection of sound and meaning, and Jonny's performance background makes him especially attuned to how line breaks, meter, and word choice shape a reader's experience. He teaches students to experiment with form — sonnets, free verse, prose poems — while sharpening the imagery...
Northwestern University
Bachelors

Certified Tutor
Dakota
Poetry demands precision that no other form of writing does — every line break, every syllable carries weight. Dakota approaches poetry writing through both craft and interpretation, drawing on her deep background in literature to show students how established poets manipulate sound, imagery, and fo...
Vanderbilt University
Master's degree
Vanderbilt University
Bachelor in Arts

Certified Tutor
David
Getting a poem from raw feeling to finished piece means learning when to cut, when to compress, and when a single verb can replace three lines of explanation. David's MA in English Adolescent Education and years teaching creative writing and fiction give him a practical framework for walking student...
CUNY Hunter College
Master of Arts, English Adolescent Education
Columbia University in the City of New York
Bachelor in Arts, English

Certified Tutor
Meagan
Poetry demands precision with language that no other form of writing quite matches — choosing between "shattered" and "broke" can change an entire poem's meaning. Meagan digs into line breaks, imagery, meter, and sound devices with students, treating each draft as raw material worth reshaping. Her l...
Harvard Graduate School of Education
Masters, Education Policy and Management
University of Pennsylvania
Bachelors, Political Science; Spanish; Education

Certified Tutor
10+ years
Writing a poem isn't just about feeling — it's about choosing whether a line break lands on a stressed or unstressed syllable, whether an image earns its abstraction. Malina studied Greek and Latin verse forms intensively at Yale, giving her a deep toolkit of meter, sound patterning, and formal stru...
Yale University
Bachelors

Certified Tutor
Joanne
Poetry demands precision that no other form of writing requires — every line break, image, and sound pattern carries weight. Joanne approaches poem drafts the way she was trained at Santa Clara and Michigan: by examining how craft choices like enjambment, meter, and figurative language shape a reade...
University of Michigan
Master of Arts, Educational Studies
Santa Clara University
Bachelor in Arts, English
Top 20 English Subjects
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Arianna
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I am a Dartmouth graduate. I am currently working on my med and business endeavors. I have not only an interest, but a motivation to help others. I have helped students get into Ivy League schools as well as other top universities across the country with top scholarships. I tutor in all subjects from French to Essay Writing and Algebra to Chemistry! I want my students and tutees to see the value in themselves and know that they can accomplish anything with determination and hard work! Realizing you can do it is half the battle and working hard to bring that dream to fruition is the other half! Hobbies: reading, music, writing, painting, art, books, photography
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I am well-acquainted with and adept in instruction for various subjects. However, my favorites subjects are math and writing/literature/languages, albeit the latter is not conventionally thought of as one subject. In essence, I love to solve puzzles; each aforementioned subject entails figuring out how the constituents interact with one another while abiding by specific rules and, sometimes, exceptions.
Sarah
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I am multi-media artist and educator working at intersections of audio documentary, performance, and media literacy. I have worked with middle and high school students in a variety of settings and contexts, teaching visual and performing arts, journalism, politics, and art history in classrooms, museums and other non-profit organizations, and in community-based mentorships in New York, Chicago, and Vienna. Through these experiences, I have developed a diverse skill set to address challenges to individual learning and growth.
Meg
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I am able to help with any English subject as well as test prep for reading and writing. As a teacher, I am passionate about helping students achieve academic success, and I will bring that same passion and creativity to any tutoring opportunity. Every student is different, and each has his or her own academic needs. I strive to find the best -- and most enjoyable -- way to tutor each student to accommodate individual learning styles. Other than English and education, my biggest passions are music, theater, and sports. I love to sing and play the piano, I have been a participant and teaching artist at my local theater’s summer camp for over ten years, and I play softball, soccer, and field hockey. Hobbies: reading, music, art, sports, books, writing
Daniel
AP Calculus AB Tutor • +31 Subjects
I am working towards my Finance degree in the Freeman School of Business. I have tutoring experience, as I tutored students in English and Mathematics during high school. Now, I tutor K-12 Math/English, including Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Precalculus, Calculus, and Language Arts, as well as Python, Hebrew, and Test Prep. My favorite subjects to tutor include Algebra 1, Algebra 2, and Language Arts. In terms of my tutoring philosophy, I feel as though a student has not mastered a topic until he/she can effectively explain it back to me as if I am a student wanting to learn said topic. Throughout my experience tutoring and receiving tutoring, I have found that this is a very powerful way of assessing mastery of a concept.
Anthony
Calculus Tutor • +74 Subjects
Hobbies: art, books, running, reading, music, writing
Myles
Calculus Tutor • +80 Subjects
I am confident that together we can uncover new perspectives and learning strategies that will reinvigorate your relationship to the material and improve your grades dramatically. Sometimes all that is necessary for an academic breakthrough is seeing old material from a new vantage point!
Kelsey
8th Grade math Tutor • +91 Subjects
I am currently a graduate student at Columbia University pursuing my Masters in Public Administration. For the past three years, I have worked at education focused non-profit organizations. During this time, I have worked as a literacy and math tutor for middle school students, as well as led a writing seminar for high school students preparing to go to college. I enjoy working with students of all grade and skill level, and I love to make learning fun! Hobbies: reading, cooking, music, writing, art, books
Valerie
12th Grade math Tutor • +84 Subjects
I am most passionate about math though, because it can be related to any subject, and because the skills that are developed through mathematical thinking can help create success in other areas. I try to use multiple approaches while teaching, and present ideas as visually and tangibly as possible. One of the dangers of learning math is that students memorize the method for solving a problem but do not realize the underlying concepts. I do my best to ensure that students recognize the broader concepts. Because math builds on itself, it is also very important to look at past topics that relate to students’ current lessons. There is not always time for teachers do this in a classroom setting. Often you’ll find that a student’s struggles come from missing previous skills that are assumed as their lessons advance. My ultimate goal is to help students build their confidence with math and to set them up for success in their future studies, whether those studies are directly or indirectly related.
Naomi
9th Grade math Tutor • +141 Subjects
I am happy to tutor for Varsity Tutors. I study English literature and philosophy, so reading and writing are my strongest suits, but I am glad to help in any of my listed subjects. Please send me a message to let me know how I can be of assistance!
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Frequently Asked Questions
Expert tutors helping with poetry writing emphasize several key elements: imagery and sensory language that creates vivid mental pictures, rhythm and sound devices like meter and rhyme, figurative language including metaphor and symbolism, and authentic voice that makes your work distinctive. Beyond technical elements, tutors guide students in understanding how these components work together to convey emotion and meaning. With personalized 1-on-1 instruction, tutors can identify which areas need the most development in your writing and provide targeted feedback on how to strengthen them.
Writer's block is one of the most common challenges students face with creative writing. Tutors recommend concrete strategies like freewriting without judgment, drawing inspiration from everyday observations, using writing prompts to spark ideas, and reading poetry in genres you admire to understand different approaches. Many students find that discussing their ideas with a tutor helps clarify their thoughts and unlock creativity. Personalized instruction also includes developing a consistent writing practice and learning techniques specific to your style—whether you work better with structure or spontaneity.
School poetry assignments often have specific requirements—particular forms like sonnets or haikus, thematic constraints, or technical elements you need to demonstrate—while personal poetry prioritizes your unique voice and what you want to express. Tutors help students navigate both: understanding form and structure when assignments demand it, while also developing authentic voice and confidence in your own style. The good news is these skills reinforce each other; mastering form deepens your appreciation for how language works, and finding your voice makes you a more intentional and creative writer in any context.
Revision is absolutely critical in poetry—most published poets revise extensively, sometimes dozens of times. When revising, tutors guide students to examine word choice and precise language, line breaks and how they affect pacing and meaning, and overall flow and musicality. Early revisions often focus on bigger questions like clarity and emotional impact, while later revisions fine-tune language and sound. With personalized feedback from a tutor, you learn to edit strategically rather than randomly, understanding not just what to change but why it matters. This develops your ability to self-critique and improve your work independently.
Most poetry curricula cover foundational forms like sonnets, haikus, free verse, and ballads, along with key techniques including metaphor, alliteration, assonance, enjambment, and symbolism. The specific forms and depth depend on your grade level and course focus. Tutors help demystify these elements by showing how they function in published poetry and guiding you through writing in different forms. Rather than memorizing definitions, personalized instruction emphasizes understanding how form shapes meaning and how to use these tools deliberately in your own work.
Your voice—the distinctive way you use language, rhythm, and perspective—develops through reading extensively, writing frequently, and getting thoughtful feedback. Tutors accelerate this development by exposing you to diverse poets and styles, asking questions that help you clarify what you want to express, and providing personalized feedback on your drafts that highlights your strengths while challenging you to grow. With 1-on-1 instruction, tutors can identify patterns in your writing and help you recognize what makes your voice unique, then intentionally strengthen those qualities in your work.
Students typically develop stronger technical skills—writing in various forms, using figurative language more effectively, and understanding sound and rhythm. Beyond technique, students gain confidence in their creative abilities and learn to revise strategically rather than feeling stuck or uncertain. You'll understand how to read poetry more deeply, which naturally improves your own writing. Most importantly, many students discover they actually enjoy poetry—both reading and writing it—after working with a tutor who makes the subject accessible and engaging through personalized instruction tailored to your learning style and interests.
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